Low-cost airline Ryanair has announced the closure of its Berlin base, citing rising airport charges. The company said seven Boeing 737 aircraft will leave the German capital and be relocated to more competitive markets in Europe, including Sweden and Albania.
The decision has surprised the Berlin airport operator, which has denied any fee increases. In a brief response, the management company announced that it is in negotiations with the airlines and that it has no plans to increase airport prices.
Ryanair claims that fares at Berlin have increased by 50% since 2019 and has confirmed that the base will close on October 24. Pilots and cabin crew have been notified of the decision, while employees have been offered the opportunity to transfer to other company bases. According to the company’s estimates, the move will halve the number of flights from Berlin, reducing air connections to nearby destinations. In recent months, other companies such as easyJet have also cut their operations in the city.
Ryanair warns that the decision will lead to the loss of over 2 million seats per year and a drop in traffic from the current 4.5 million passengers to around 2.2 million by 2027. The company emphasizes that, in the absence of cost-cutting reforms in Germany, it will continue to shift aircraft to more competitive markets in Europe.